Hydrangea plant named ‘HSOPR015’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea serrata  plant named ‘HSOPR015’ that is characterized by its a plant habit that is low growing and almost ground covering, its suckering roots, its red-purple fall foliage coloration, and its inflorescences that are held primarily above the foliar plane.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea serrata.

Varietal denomination: ‘HSOPR015’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a European plant breeders' rights application filed on Oct. 24, 2017, application No. 2017/2689. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed plant breeder's rights documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea serrata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘HSOPR015’. ‘HSOPR015’ represents a new Hydrangea, a perennial shrub grown for landscape use and as a potted plant.

‘HSOPR015’ was derived from a breeding program conducted by the Inventor at his nursery in Merksplas, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program is to select new cultivars of Hydrangea with low growing plant habits and long blooming habits.

‘HSOPR015’ arose from controlled cross made in July of 2010 between an unnamed and unpatented plant of Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis as the female patent and an unnamed and unpatented plant of Hydrangea serrata as the male parent. ‘HSOPR015’ was selected a single unique plant from the above cross in August of 2014.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings by the Inventor in September of 2015 in Merksplas, Belgium. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘HSOPR015’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘HSOPR015’ exhibits a plant habit that is low growing and         almost ground covering.     -   2. ‘HSOPR015’ exhibits suckering roots.     -   3. ‘HSOPR015’ exhibits red-purple fall foliage coloration.     -   4. ‘HSOPR015’ exhibits a prolific blooming habit regardless if         pruned in fall or early spring.     -   5. ‘HSOPR015’ exhibits inflorescences that are held primarily         above the foliar plane.

The female parent of ‘HSOPR015’ differs from ‘HSOPR015’ in having a much taller plant height and an upright growth habit. The male parent of ‘HSOPR015’ differs from ‘HSOPR015’ in having inflorescences that are held within the foliage. ‘HSOPR015’ can be most closely compared to the Hydrangea serrata cultivars ‘Spreading Beauty’ (not patented) and ‘Kurenai’ (not patented). ‘Spreading Beauty’ is similar to ‘HSOPR015’ in having a compact plant shape, inflorescences with sterile and fertile flowers with fertile flowers being clearly visible and in having a similar inflorescence coloration. ‘Spreading Beauty’ differs from ‘HSOPR015’ in having more conspicuously serrated leaf margins and in not producing root suckers. ‘Kurenai’ is similar to ‘HSOPR015’ in having inflorescences with sterile and fertile flowers with fertile flowers being clearly visible and in having a similar inflorescence coloration. ‘Kurenai’ differs from ‘HSOPR015’ in not producing root suckers, in having a less compact plant habit, and in commencing bloom later in the season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs were taken of a two-year-old plant of ‘HSOPR015’ as field grown in Stroe, The Netherlands and placed in a 25-cm container for the photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘HSOPR015’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘HSOPR015’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘HSOPR015’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two-year-old plants of ‘HSOPR015’ as field grown in Stroe, The Netherlands and placed in 25-cm containers for the photographs. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Approximately 6 weeks from May to late June             in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Low growing and spreading upright, nearly             groundcover-like.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches 44 cm in height and 59.8 cm in             spread as grown in a 25-cm container, reached about 50 cm in             height and 150 cm in width in the landscape.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 6.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and dense, NN155A and 164A             in color.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—An average of 70 days for root initiation             with a young rooted plant produced in an average of 5             months.         -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem color.—Young; 144B, mature; between 144A and 146B,             internodes N186C, bark 199C to 200C.         -   Stem size.—Average of 31.5 cm in length and 5 mm in             diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Young stems have 2 shallow wings; average of 1             mm in length, rounded when maturing, stem and wings are             glabrous.         -   Stem aspect.—Upright, average angle of 55° to soil level.         -   Internode length.—An average of 6.6 cm.         -   Branching.—Freely branched from the base with an average of             24 lateral branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate to nearly elliptic.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 144B, lower             surface 145A to 145B.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 11.7 cm in length and 7 cm in             width.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf number.—An average of 12 per lateral stem.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface slightly rugose, rough to the             touch, densely covered with very short strigose hairs, 0.75             mm, 155A in color, lower surface slightly rugose, sparsely             to moderately covered with very short hairs; an average of             0.3 mm in length and too small to measure color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A, young lower surface;             between 138A and 146B, mature upper surface; between NN137A             and 147A, mature lower surface; 147B, fall on upper and             lower surface; a blend of 58A and 58B.         -   Petioles.—Average of 3 cm in length, 4 mm in diameter,             glabrous and slightly glossy surfaces, upper surface color             146C, margins 182A, lower surface 144B, margins 182A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flattened, typical lace-cap, comprised             of central fertile flowers, margined by sterile flowers.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; persistent             for an average of 6 weeks, fertile flowers; self-cleaning,             an average of 5 days.         -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 8 cm in height and 13.9 cm             in diameter.         -   Flower number.—An average of 7 sterile flowers and 380             fertile flowers.         -   Flower fragrance.—Moderately strong, somewhat moldy             fragrance.         -   Flower aspect.—Sterile flowers; upright, outward to slightly             drooping when fading, fertile flowers; held upright.         -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; up to 4.4 cm in diameter and 9             mm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 1 cm in diameter             and 1 mm in depth.         -   Flower type.—Sterile flowers rotate, fertile flowers rotate             with petals drop when mature.         -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 9 mm in length             and 2 cm in diameter, bowl-shaped, color; 145B, changing to             144B at the base, 67D at the top, fertile flowers; an             average of 5 mm in length and 3 mm in diameter, obovate in             shape, color; 160C, moderately tinged 75B, changing fully to             75B at the base, 72C to 72D at the top.         -   Peduncles.—Primary peduncles; strong, flattened oval in             shape, an average of 2.5 cm in length and 3 mm in width.             secondary peduncles 1 cm in length and 2 mm in width, color             146D and tinged with a color between 75C to 75D, surface             moderately covered with a thin pubescence; average of 0.2 mm             in length and too small to measure color.         -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; moderate strength, an average of             2.1 cm in length and 1.25 mm in width, a color between 75C             to 75D held in an average angle of 25°, surface is matte,             moderately covered with thin pubescence; average of 0.2 mm             in length and too small to measure color, fertile flowers;             moderate strength, an average of 2 mm in length, 1 mm in             diameter, held in an average angle of 20°, a color between             75C to 75D, surface is matte and glabrous.         -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; average of 4, rotate, ovate to             concave in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins,             3 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, both surfaces glabrous,             matte, color when opening and fully open upper surface 77C,             changing to 91A, color when opening and fully open lower             surface 76C, tinged 160C, 91A at the base, fertile flowers;             average of 5, rotate, ovate to concave in shape, acute apex,             cuneate base, entire margins, 4 mm in length and 1.8 mm in             width, both surfaces are glabrous and matte, color when             opening and fully open upper surface 77C, changing to 91A at             the base, color when opening and fully open lower surface             76C, tinged 160C, tinged 160C, 91A at the base.         -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; 4 (occasionally 3 to 5), rotate,             broadly ovate to reniform to orbicular in shape, apex is             obtuse to broadly, bluntly acute, base is broadly cuneate,             margins are crenate to serrate with blunt teeth,             non-undulate, 2.5 cm in length, 2.4 cm in width, both             surfaces glabrous and matte, color; when opening upper             surface 75A to 75B, occasionally tinged 91B, occasionally             veined 91A, when opening lower surface 75B to 75D,             occasionally changing to N75C at the top, changing to 145C             at the base, when fully open upper surface 72D and 73A,             veins tinged 92B, when fully open lower surface 75B, veins             145A to 145B, upper surface changing to 144B, slightly to             strongly tinged towards the tip 172A to 172B, lower surface             fading to 176B, fertile flowers; average of 5, rotate, short             deltoid in shape, broadly acute apex, broadly cuneate base,             entire margins, 1.75 mm in length, 1 mm in width, both             surfaces glabrous and matte, color; when opening and fully             opening upper and lower surface 146D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; 2 pistils, average of 1 mm in             length, stigma is club-shaped, N187D, style 0.6 mm in             length, 84A in color, ovary 84A in color, fertile flowers; 4             pistils, an average of 2 mm in length, stigma; club-shaped             and 155C in color, style; 1.25 mm in length, NN74D in color,             ovary is 75C in color.         -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; an average of 8 stamens,             filaments; an average of 4 mm in length and 85C in color,             anthers; double broad oblong in shape, an average of 0.8 mm             in length and N187D in color, pollen; moderate to high in             quantity and 155A in color, fertile flowers; an average of             10 stamens, filaments; an average of 7 mm in length and N75D             in color, changing to 92B at the distil end in color,             anthers; double broadly oblong in shape, an average of 0.8             mm in length and N187D in color, pollen; moderate to high in             quantity and 155A in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘HSOPR015’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 